Chapter 54 THSK Vol. 2 Chapter 4 Part 1

Chapter 4 – The Personal Knight and the Proud Imperial Noble

1

Late July, Kingdom Calendar Year 1241.

The bandit gangs infesting the Dyrst region were being systematically mopped up under Ritziareite’s command. The former bandit hideouts were repurposed as new forward bases for the Provisional Elite Corps, and preparations for the Reshfeld Kingdom’s invasion were proceeding smoothly.

And then, the Kingdom made its move.

“Rune-sama. A formal demand has arrived from the Reshfeld Kingdom, ordering us to cede the Dyrst region.”

“I see. Right on schedule. …And the operations against the other shadow organizations?”

“Proceeding well. Fadi has annihilated ‘Red Broad’s’ splinter groups, so we no longer need to fear interference from the anti-Princess nobles. ‘Izu Clan’ is still active, but the chance of them intervening in a war is extremely low. However… they may still conspire with the anti-Princess nobles to slander your name.”

“We’ll be wary of that. But for the most part, it seems we’re in the clear. Thank goodness…”

Despite her words of relief, her expression was clouded with worry.

“Is there something else?”

“…No. I was just… remembering.”

“You mean…”

“Yes. The time we failed. This exact demand… it came in the past, too.”

She was right. This declaration had happened in the previous timeline. The only difference now was that we were prepared for it.

“Regarding the invasion…”

“As you ordered, we are taking the utmost care to ensure this does not reach His Majesty the Emperor’s ears.”

“Good. If Father found out, he would immediately escalate this into a full-blown war.”

Princess Valtrune’s plan to deal with the invasion herself was a countermeasure to prevent the current Emperor from making a rash decision. She alone would control the timing of this war. The Kingdom’s demand would be ‘lost.’ If they protested, we would simply claim it never arrived.

“As for the Kingdom’s envoy… Fadi’s people have been dispatched to arrange an ‘unfortunate accident’ on the road. The envoy’s carriage should be under attack as we speak.”

With the official message ‘lost,’ the Kingdom’s attack will appear to be a complete surprise. And if we ensure that foreign dignitaries are present to witness this ‘unprovoked’ aggression, the Empire will not be isolated when the war begins.

“We will have the foreign guests arrive on the same day as the Reshfeld Kingdom’s invasion. …Will it work?”

This final piece depended entirely on how far Prince Ixion, our insider, was willing to go.

“He’s managed to adjust the timing. The attack will begin in the mid-afternoon. The original plan was a dawn raid, but Prince Ixion ‘persuaded’ them otherwise.”

“That’s… impressive.”

“Indeed. No one is wary of the ‘Ghost Prince.’ He apparently started the ‘right’ rumors to guide the military leadership. He plans to use the same method for the date.”

“Securing Prince Ixion as an ally was the right move.”

He would have been an impossibly difficult enemy. Having someone so skilled in subterfuge disrupting the Kingdom from within was a massive advantage.

“Prince Ixion is doing all he can. We will make this operation to destroy the Kingdom’s reputation a success.”

As Princess Valtrune smiled, I felt both her bottomless charm and a sense of awe.

She was manipulating the narrative, ensuring our version of events was the only one told.

‘This is an unjust and illegal act of aggression by the Reshfeld Kingdom.’

That was the message we needed to send. Officially, Princess Valtrune was merely inviting dignitaries to tour the Dyrst region. It was all a pretext.

“A sudden attack by the Kingdom’s army… The foreign guests will be quite shocked, won’t they?”

“Yes. But… if I then take command and brilliantly repulse the Reshfeld army…”

“Your fame will skyrocket, and the Kingdom will lose all credibility with the other nations.”

It was a perfect plan. If Princess Valtrune could gain this military achievement, all opposition to her succession would be silenced.

“All that will be left is to remove the anti-Princess nobles.”

Princess Valtrune’s voice was cold.

This plan would prove her fitness to rule. All that remained was to eliminate the thorns in her side. Once they were gone, the day she took control of the Empire was near.

“Rune-sama. I have a list of all anti-Princess nobles here. If we can control the enemy’s movements in the Dyrst region, we could ‘guide’ the Kingdom’s army toward the lands of those nobles.”

“The primary goal is to repel the Kingdom. That plan is a contingency, only to be used if we have a decisive advantage.”

“Understood.”

“But do not slack in its preparation. It’s a perfect opportunity to cull their power.”

“Yes!”

“Al. You must win this battle. A narrow victory is not enough. …It is time to show the entire world the true difference in power between the Valugan Empire and the Reshfeld Kingdom.”

“As you wish, Rune-sama.”

I knelt and bowed my head. She placed her hand on my shoulder and smiled.

“I am counting on you… my one and only knight.”

We were one step away. The path to the throne was finally in sight.

My job was to make it a reality.

---

2

“You, commoner… Come with us.”

I was walking down a castle corridor, on an errand for Princess Valtrune, when a hand grabbed my shoulder. I turned. A group of men were sneering at me.

“…”

“Hey. I’m talking to you. Sir Knight.”

I’d never met them, but I had their faces memorized.

The sons of anti-Princess nobles. Their eyes were filled with such pure, undisguised malice it was sickening.

“…Is there something a group of nobles needs from a mere knight?”

They just snorted. “We have something to discuss. You’re coming with us.”

“And if I refuse?”

“—!”

“A joke. Of course, I’ll accompany you.”

I could tell from their glares. They really, really hated me.

I put on a pasted-on smile and followed them, just as they’d planned, to a deserted courtyard.

‘You are the only one who can protect yourself.’

I remembered Princess Valtrune’s warning. She had predicted this.

‘The anti-Princess faction sees my growing influence as a threat. They will try anything to slander my reputation.’

She had been on guard from the start.

‘And as my personal knight, you are their most likely target.’

Just as she’d read, these noble sons were luring me away. Am I a fool for walking right into their trap? …No.

‘Al. If they try to use force… you will defend yourself. Just… don’t kill them. If we can prove they instigated it, we can destroy their families’ reputations.’

I would never make such a clumsy mistake. I wouldn’t be the one to ruin the reputation she had worked so hard to build.

This was Princess Valtrune’s trap. And I… was the bait.

“Heh. What an idiot…”

“Totally. He has no idea what’s coming.”

They were the idiots. They had no idea they were the ones who’d been caught.

…Let the culling begin.

---

3

I watched from the shadows as Al was led away. The anti-Princess nobles had taken the bait, just as I’d planned.

Al would be fine. He has the strength to overcome any adversity.

…Now, I just need one final push to seal their fate.

“Tch. Why’d that commoner just go with them?”

And using this man… will be easy.

Beside me, his eyes narrowed, was the second son of Duke Gerreschiff, the leader of my faction.

‘Linos von Gerreschiff.’

A proud Imperial noble who despises commoners. His elitist views make him an outlier… but…

“…I don’t like this.”

The truth is, he’s nothing like the rumors. He may dislike the low-born, but he despises nobles who have forgotten their noblesse oblige and act with simple arrogance. He is not one of them.

“Linos. May I ask something of you?”

…And that is why he will move exactly as I wish.

“Your Highness?”

“…It’s about my knight. I’m worried.”

“He just followed them, Your Highness. I understand your concern.”

Linos’s respectful reply made me smile. I looked down, my voice barely a whisper.

“This is… a terrible thing to ask. But… could you please… check on Al for me?”

“—Me, Your Highness?”

“Yes. You’re the only one I can trust.”

His eyes wavered. He was hesitating. He had never approved of Al’s appointment and was furious that a commoner was my shield. But he is also my most loyal supporter.

“…Linos.”

“—! …Understood. I will follow them and observe.”

Perfect. He’s exactly the man I thought he was.

Linos hurried off. As I watched him go, my innocent, worried expression vanished.

“Flegel.”

“…Yes.”

“You heard. Linos is on his way.”

“…And what would you have me do?”

“Fufu. Fadi taught you his sight-share magic, didn’t he? Would it be possible for my father and I to share Linos’s vision?”

Flegel’s brow furrowed. He knew immediately.

“…Are you planning to use him as a tool to crush your enemies?”

I shook my head, my arms crossed.

“Use him? No. I’m simply confirming the facts.”

“With His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Yes. With Father.”

My knight is an extension of myself. If those nobles were to lay a hand on him… and if my father, the Emperor, were to witness it… they would be severely punished. Traitors to the Empire, who tried to harm the Princess’s personal knight.

—Once that label is applied, their families will be ruined.

They will lose all power and will never be able to stand in my way again.